Chapter 5 Summary

On the day that Nirdlinger's train is to leave at 9:45 pm, Walter continues to lay the tracks of his alibi. He goes to interview a long-term prospect at 4 o'clock, returns to the office and has a card made up for him, and then he goes home and gets his supper served to him by the Filipino houseboy. After his meal, Walter makes a show of getting ready to go to bed at a quarter to seven when the houseboy makes his last visit before leaving for the day. Walter makes a lot of notes on the prospect he has seen that day, noting the date and time. He phones his office, talks to the night watchman, and sends the man on a wild goose chase looking for his rate book, which Walter has hidden so it can't be found. The plan is to...